- The Tamil Nadu government has opposed the provision in the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill proposing a common final-year MBBS exam- National Exit Test (NEXT).
- According to the state government, such an exam could be held for those studying medicine abroad and coming to India for practice, not for MBBS students in India.
- The state government has also opined that provisions of the Bill are against the federal principles and undermine rights of States.
- Recently, the Union Cabinet approved the National Medical Commission Bill, 2019 which proposes to repeal the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956.
- If enacted, the current Medical Council of India would be replaced by a National Medical Commission.
- The bill proposes a common final year MBBS exam called National Exit Test (NEXT) to start medical practice. It will also be used for entrance into postgraduate medical courses, and act as a screening test for foreign medical graduates.
- The Bill proposes to unify all entrance procedures for medical courses. The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), common counselling and NEXT will be applicable to Institutes of National Importance (INIs) such as the All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to ensure uniform standards.
- The bill also proposes to set up a Medical Advisory Council as a separate entity. It will serve as the primary platform through which the states will put forward their views and concerns before the NMC.
